Hamlet Act 1, Scene 2, Lines 129 – 159 Soliloquy By: Justin W, Jake L, and Taylor L Teacher: Mrs. Monosky Date: Friday, June 10, 2011

Introduction The soliloquy for act 1, scene 2, 129-159, is Hamlets first soliloquy which he expresses all his inner thoughts concerning his fathers death and his Uncle marrying his mother Gertrude. Hamlet is shocked at how quickly his mother remarried. Hamlet despises his Uncle Claudius and can not accept him as a father. Hamlet wishes his father was still alive since Hamlet describes him as a remarkable king. The troubles Hamlet is experiencing must stay to himself because if he reveals his feelings aloud people may become suspicious to what he is planning.

Soliloquy Line Breakdown O, that this too too solid flesh would melt Thaw and resolve itself into a dew! Or that the Everlasting had not fix'd His canon 'gainst self-slaughter! O God! God! Hamlet does not want to continue living and is thinking of committing suicide but holds back due to religion beliefs. How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable, Seem to me all the uses of this world! Fie on't! ah fie! 'tis an unweeded garden, That grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature Possess it merely. That it should come to this! Life is not worth living and that all things become foul. 


Soliloquy Line Breakdown But two months dead: nay, not so much, not two: So excellent a king; that was, to this, Hyperion to a satyr; so loving to my mother That he might not beteem the winds of heaven Visit her face too roughly. Heaven and earth! King Hamlet was a terrific king that loved Gertrude very much. Must I remember? why, she would hang on him, As if increase of appetite had grown By what it fed on: and yet, within a month Let me not think on’t. Gertrude remarried so soon after King Hamlet died, only took a month.

Soliloquy Line Breakdown Frailty, thy name is woman!-- A little month, or ere those shoes were old With which she follow'd my poor father's body, Like Niobe, all tears:--why she, even she-- O, God! a beast, that wants discourse of reason, Would have mourn'd longer--married with my uncle, My father's brother, but no more like my father Than I to Hercules: within a month: Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears Had left the flushing in her galled eyes, She married. After only a month Hamlets mother remarries Claudius his uncle. Hamlet can not seem to understand this mix up because he assumed his mother deeply loved his father. O, most wicked speed, to post With such dexterity to incestuous sheets! It is not nor it cannot come to good: But break, my heart; for I must hold my tongue. Nothing good can come out of this, but he must not tell anyone about his feelings. Hamlet has to keep his thoughts to himself.

YouTube Link For a better overall understanding of the soliloquy we are going to show a clip from the Hamlet movie. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCBVmiVkzTM&feature=related

significance of the soliloquy to the plot The soliloquy in act 1, scene 2 is very significant to the plot because it shows how Hamlet is feeling at this point in the play. With no one around to hear him, he is able to express his true feelings. This being his first soliloquy of the play, Hamlet speaks on how painful the situation is for him. Hamlet feels as if he is ‘dirty’ just because of his mother’s decision to remarry so quickly to his uncle. In this soliloquy it clearly shows that he is depressed as he wishes that God didn’t have a rule against suicide. This soliloquy is important to the story as it outlines exactly what is causing Hamlet’s depression; that being, his father’s death and his mother’s quick remarriage. If the play did not have this soliloquy, the readers would be left to draw conclusions as to what was creating his depression.

Significance to Hamlet and others This soliloquy is significant because it shows the depth of Hamlet’s sadness and depression. It shows just how much he resents King Claudius and foreshadows what may come of this. This soliloquy also shows his frustration and isolation from the society that he is in, and the norms which restrict his expression (“But break, my heart; for I must hold my tongue). The “frailty thy name is woman” quote illustrates Hamlet’s negative opinion on the weakness of women, particularly his mother Gertrude. This soliloquy will affect Hamlet and Gertrude’s relationship, and could also affect his relationships with future woman (i.e. Ophelia).

What methods are used Methods: Shakespeare uses metaphors and mythology to communicate Hamlet’s thoughts: Metaphors: -Wishes that his ‘sullied flesh’ will ‘melt into a dew’. Sullied flesh represents physical life, melting into a dew represents dying. He wants to commit suicide but respects that it is against the teachings of God. -He compares the world to an ‘unweeded garden’ which produces ‘things rank and gross it nature’. Mythology: -Compares his father to Claudius: “Hyperion to a satyr”. Hyperion is a titan god, while a satyr is a half man half goat creature. -Compares Gertrude to Niobe, who is known for her everlasting tears. (Illustrating how much she cried after Hamlet’s death, and how it is despicable that she could re-marry so quickly after that). -Says that Claudius is no more like his father than Hamlet to Hercules.

Parts of the soliloquy that support themes The theme violation and reestablishment of order is presented because Hamlet feels like he has been violated with his fathers death occurring, and Claudius remarrying his mother so soon after the tragic accident. The theme of revenge comes into play because hamlet keeps his thoughts to himself not letting anyone become aware of his future plans to revenge his father death.

Conclusion In Hamlet’s first soliloquy of the play, he speaks on all that contributes to his depression which includes his father’s sudden death and mother’s quick remarriage. During this soliloquy Shakespeare uses metaphors to clearly communicate the character’s thoughts and feelings. Shakespeare also portrays themes of violation and reestablishment of order. This soliloquy introduces us to Hamlet’s mindset throughout the play and is essential to the entire plot.